Orchid 
Drought resilience and land restoration—what’s better for our semi-arid region than building habitat through native plants? To celebrate their 150th anniversary—including 90 years at their home in Balboa Park– the San Diego Natural History Museum (aka The Nat) created the Nature Trail, a brand-new public garden to be freely explored by all park visitors.
Set among the mature trees and horticultural displays of Balboa Park, the gardens feature the beautiful and beneficial indigenous plants of Southern California and the Baja Peninsula. Taking cues from the sun and shade patterns around the building, a series of themed gardens extend the Nat’s innovative and playful exhibits to the outdoors, incorporating spaces for gathering, relaxation and observation—both self-guided and museum-led. The First People’s Garden includes important ethnobotanic plants curated by the Nat’s tribal partners. The Boulder Garden provides a place for up close encounters with plants from the region’s palm canyons.
The Nature Trail demonstrates new ways of thinking about our parks and civic spaces, creating new places for the flora and fauna in our region and inviting people to stop, experience and maybe make new pollinator friends.
There are many intimate gathering areas but also an open area for everyone. A lot has been achieved in a small space.